Atletico Madrid: What next for manager Diego Simeone?

The only thing that is indisputable is Simeone’s management history at Atletico.

He took charge of Atletico Madrid 786 times and recorded 465 wins, 170 draws and 151 defeats over 14.5 seasons. This makes him one of the longest-serving coaches in world football.

Atletico offered Simeone his first major managerial job in European football when he was appointed in December 2011; His previous role on the continent was to save Italian side Catania from relegation in Serie A, following success with River Plate and Estudiantes in Argentina.

The club changed during that period. When Simeone first arrived, Atletico had been knocked out of the Copa del Rey by third-tier Albacete and were 10th in La Liga, 21 points behind the leaders.

Atletico won the Europa League in Simeone’s first season under the Argentine coach and added the UEFA Super Cup and Copa del Rey in 2012-13.

Atletico have qualified for the Champions League every season since 2013-14, after winning their first title under Simeone, and twice suffered agonizing final defeats to rivals Real in the three years between 2014 and 2016.

Competing on Europe’s biggest stage was no longer considered an achievement, but the standard.

As Atletico fan Guillermo Myela describes it, Simeone changed the mentality of the fans.

“We have gone from being El Pupas, the ‘Linuxes’, to a club that can compete without fear against Barcelona and Real Madrid,” says Myela.

“His connection with the club and the fans is something you rarely see in modern football. He lives for Atletico Madrid.”

Fans of Javier del Amo, the club’s most decorated manager of all time, describe him as “one of the greatest icons in our history”.

“One of his biggest accomplishments is getting fans to re-identify with the team,” says Del Amo.

Lifelong fan Dani Ruiz agrees: “He is the symbol of Atletico and what modern football has come to.”